THIS summer s Stevenage Festival has been deemed a resounding success, raising up to �6,000 for next year s event. The annual festival, which was founded in 1994 and aims to provide a showcase for local amateur arts groups, this year included a fortnight

THIS summer's Stevenage Festival has been deemed a resounding success, raising up to �6,000 for next year's event.

The annual festival, which was founded in 1994 and aims to provide a showcase for local amateur arts groups, this year included a fortnight of performances at The Gordon Craig Theatre.

Productions included Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man by Stevenage Choral Society and Stevenage Symphony Orchestra, and Westside Story by Fusion Community Arts.

Primary and secondary schools, dance schools, music groups and youth theatre groups also performed at the theatre, and the fortnight was rounded off with Last Night of the Proms on Saturday.

Alongside the Gordon Craig performances, there was a fringe programme of smaller arts events around the town, ranging from patchwork to paintings to poetry.

Festival chairman Ron Walker said: "Everyone said it was a wonderful event. "We sat down after the last night at the theatre and assessed it all and we in the committee believe it was a great success.

"There were some outstanding performances and we had a number of full houses.

"Some of the fringe events were very well supported as well.

"There were a lot of very, very good shows and enjoyable events."

Mr Walker said the festival has raised between �5,000 and �6,000 and the money will be used to put on next year's event.

"We are already thinking about dates for next year," he said.